title: Towards the prevention of vein graft failure.
abstract: Improved outcome after coronary bypass surgery over the last decade has been attributed largely to the increasing use of arterial conduits and their superior patency rates over that of saphenous vein grafts. In spite of this trend, autologous saphenous vein has remained an important and convenient conduit for a variety of operative scenarios, and is still used for more than 70% of grafts. As a result, vein graft failure continues to represent a significant clinical and economic burden upon the health care service. Between 15 to 30% of saphenous vein grafts occlude within the first year of surgery, increasing to over 50% after 10 years. By this time, more than 10% of patients will require further intervention to alleviate symptoms arising from occluded grafts and progression of native disease. Graft occlusion arises either from early thrombosis or the later onset of 'vein graft disease' and subsequent atherosclerotic changes.
authors.affiliation: Bristol Heart Institute, University of Bristol, UK.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mehta
authors.forename: M B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Izzat
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Bryan
authors.forename: G D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Angelini
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D002465:Cell Movement; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass / Q000379:methods; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000601:surgery*; D004714:Endometrial Hyperplasia / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D015316:Genetic Therapy; D006083:Graft Occlusion, Vascular / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006085:Graft Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000503:physiopathology; D012501:Saphenous Vein / Q000637:transplantation; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D015607:Stents; D014654:Vascular Patency / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents